Gurk

Gurk was a small prince-bishopric in Carinthia, founded on Countess Hemma’s endowment. In 1337 its bishop was subordinate to the Archbishop of Salzburg, and the bishops resided at Strassburg Castle near Gurk.

In 1535 Archbishop Matthäus Lang and King Ferdinand I agreed to share the right to nominate Gurk’s bishops, while Salzburg retained their confirmation. Under Josephinist reforms the diocese expanded, and the residence moved to Pöckstein in 1783 and Klagenfurt in 1787.